Il Maggio
01 May 2010
An old tradition in Tuscany: canti del maggio, men singing for unmarried girls to wish them good luck in their search for love.
A wonderful “Pasquetta”
06 Apr 2010
And the unusual encounters we had while taking a walk in the countryside of Tuscany.
A springy Good Friday
02 Apr 2010
The swallows are here, the trees are in bloom!
Memories of an Altar Girl
01 Apr 2010
Easter is a great time to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations, and a marvelous opportunity to discover local customs and old traditions.
Olive trees and palms… the sacred and the profane!
29 Mar 2010
Olive tree pruning season in Tuscany generally falls around Palm Sunday, and it’s a big deal.
Slow Living Day in Tuscany
17 Mar 2010
Monday was Slow Living day, and we celebrated it by taking a really slow drive in the countryside!
A taste of better days to come!
22 Jan 2010
There are apparently insignificant events out there that have the power to slow things down and make us think. Like a small daisy in a winter garden.
The olive harvest in Tuscany
18 Nov 2009
November is the month of the olive harvest in Tuscany. This year the new olive oil is delicious: bright green and slightly spicy.
La Vendemmia: a family business!
23 Sep 2009
My family has made its own wine for decades. I have many dear memories of the “vendemmia”, the grape harvest. For those who have no idea how the “non professional” grape harvest works, here is what happens in my family every year.
Palio di Siena
07 Jul 2009
What is “Palio di Siena”? The simplest answer is a horse race held in Piazza del Campo in Siena twice a year. The simplest answer might not be the most suitable though, because nobody who has been in Siena even once would agree that the Palio is just a horse race.
